Pigeons in the Sky of Old Delhi

In New Delhi, some rooftops are much busier than they look. Near the old Jama Masjid area, men still keep alive a tradition called kabootarbaazi, or pigeon-rearing and training. Every day, they gather on rooftops, open cages, feed the birds, and send them into the sky. To many visitors, it looks like a soft gray cloud that suddenly learns teamwork.

For people in this tradition, pigeons are not just birds. They are part of a skill passed down through generations. Reuters reported that one pigeon keeper, Azhar Udeen, trains more than 120 pigeons with help from his brother and friends. The birds learn to fly in groups, change direction, and return home. Sometimes they are also tested in races.

This culture goes back to the Mughal period. At that time, trained pigeons were used for entertainment and also as messengers. Today, the tradition stays alive in a very modern city full of traffic, noise, and pressure. Trainers say teaching the birds takes nearly four months and includes using loud sounds to push them to fly farther.

But the tradition is about more than flying. People meet on rooftops, talk with friends, teach younger learners, and forget stress for a while. In a crowded city, that may be one of the most important parts. Old Delhi’s pigeons are not only moving through the sky. They are also carrying a piece of history.